These are great for hunting or the range. They amplify low sounds and dampens loud ones. They do not "shut off" during loud sounds or wind, so you can follow conversations at the range or around machinery or farm equipment and "hear like a deer" in the woods. These are an absolute necessity if you hunt with a firearm with a muzzle brake. If you shoot with a muzzle brake, more of the muzzle blast is directed toward you, so the increased noise level will cause permanent hearing damage if you don't wear hearing protection, and it's dangerous to hunt with hearing protection that doesn't allow you to hear. The behind-the-head band allows you to wear a hat with a brim, which is great if you hunt in the rainy Pacific Northwest like I do. I'm a Hunter Safety instructor, I mentor young hunters, and I hunt with a .338 Lapua Magnum with a muzzle brake, so I spend a lot of time at the range and in the woods, plus the firearm I use is extremely loud. I need great hearing protection and I need to be able to hear. These are great.